They say, in the world of yarn artists that there is a crucial moment in the process of knitting or crochetting. That moment previous to any stitching: it's the time of making a sample and calculating the amount of stitches that are necessary to complete the object. They say, as well, that you don't become an expert until you make of this moment a habit.For the moment of counting, I use a simple device: an empty square, carved on a thin cardboard. It measures 4 inches x 4 inches. This object can be placed on top of the sample and it allows you to calculate how many stitches and rows you'd need to cover the surface. What's your method for calculating this?